South Carolina Republican National Committee member Glenn McCall has called for Governor Mark Sanford’s resignation.

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) - A top South Carolina Republican is calling on Mark Sanford to resign following his admission of an extramarital affair, making him the first GOP official in the state to say openly the governor should step aside.

South Carolina Republican National Committee member Glenn McCall cited Sanford's past criticism of Bill Clinton, and accused the governor of hypocrisy.

"He was saying our elected leaders needs to stand firm on principles and values and one of those is strong family values," McCall told CNN in a phone interview. "What he said is hypocritical if he doesn't step down, because he was right with what he said about Clinton and others. When you are elected leader we hold you to higher standards. "

Elected to his post by state GOP activists last year, McCall is not a state lawmaker and has no formal ability to pressure the governor to remove himself from office. But he holds considerable sway with the state's religious conservative community and is considered a rising star in the state Republican Party. He is also one of the three African-American members of the RNC.

McCall said his decision reflects the sentiment of the activists in York County, where he is the county party chairman.

"I got an e-mail from someone this morning who asked me, 'What is the difference between our party and the Democrats when we have our guys behave like this?'" McCall said.

McCall said he primarily concerned with returning the Republican party to national prominence. He said that the state legislature should investigate whether Sanford abused power or misused state money to visit his mistress, but he said he didn't think an impeachment vote would be productive.

soundoff(91 Responses)

Republicans made themselves the morality police.If they can't practice what they preach they should just be quiet for awhile.Don't they have enough trouble.

June 25, 2009 03:46 pm at 3:46 pm |

Melissa

How amusing. Looks like some of the Republicans have at least a small brain in their heads. Even if its for the wrong reasons.

June 25, 2009 03:48 pm at 3:48 pm |

Scotty Larsen

Okay, I am as left as it gets, however this is NOT a issue for us, it is for his family and only them . Thank you, Scotty

June 25, 2009 03:50 pm at 3:50 pm |

lema

Resign,resign,resign!!!

June 25, 2009 03:51 pm at 3:51 pm |

Freetospeak

Martial problems are not a Democrat or a Republican problem. Is the very nature of the complex relationship between a husband and wife. The problem comes from lies and deception when the good Gov failed to let city officials know his where abouts especially on a trip that is Gov sponsored. That is the underlying issue that should cause concern and raise the question on weather or not he should resign.

June 25, 2009 03:53 pm at 3:53 pm |

simp

"what is the difference of our party and the democrats when we have guys behave like this"

What in the hell does that mean? evidently this moron has not been keeping up with the immortality in the republician party, hell the last year or so just about all the sex scandals came from the GOP 's comments like that from mccalls district goes to show the repubs think they are better then the democrats, how interesting after all President Barack Obama is our President and guess what stupid? He is a DEMOCRAT. Mccall is an idiot for even quoting something like that. I tell you another stupid africian american repub who does not have a clue, just like Steele.

June 25, 2009 03:54 pm at 3:54 pm |

Carolyn Greene

Has anyone stopped to think that this story of unfaithfulness may also be a cover up?

June 25, 2009 03:54 pm at 3:54 pm |

Wanderer

Calling for Stanford to resign won’t prevent the same problem from happening again. The GOP should discard their principles or keep it to themselves and be more realistic. They should realize that they are no better than Democrats and self-righteousness won’t turn a hawk into a pigeon.

June 25, 2009 03:56 pm at 3:56 pm |

Janet

I don't think he should resign because of his affair.

I don't think he should resign because his testosterone took him out of the country on an uncontrollable whim.

I think he should resign because HE SAID that's what HE would do if he ever found himself in the situation.

You passed judgement on others and now your Judgement Day has arrived (it always does, doesn't it?). Put up or shut up.

My condolences to Jenny.

June 25, 2009 03:56 pm at 3:56 pm |

Rob R

"What is the difference between our party and the Democrats..."? There is NO difference....there's always a thin line between politician and miscreant...

June 25, 2009 03:57 pm at 3:57 pm |

Ron Howerton

If impeachment was good enough for Clinton, then Sanford deserves no less. Now, does anybody want to give odds on whether Republicans will vote to impeach one of their own? Considering Bush's retention after declaring an unnecessary war, squandering TRILLIONS of tax dollars, and resulting in the deaths of more than 3,000 American soldiers, I am doubtful any Republican has the moral courage to stand for what's right for a change.

June 25, 2009 03:58 pm at 3:58 pm |

Tulsa

If you want to see how a REAL father and husband behaves, look no further than the White House.
Thank you Mr. President for the good example.

June 25, 2009 04:00 pm at 4:00 pm |

Justin

Is there a single vocal 'values' Republican who HASN'T had an affair? Honestly, I wouldn't care except for the laughable hypocrisy.

June 25, 2009 04:00 pm at 4:00 pm |

RDS

I don't care about his affair that's his own family business, what I do care about is the fact that the acting governor of a state leaves the country for 5 days without telling ANYBODY. Just imagine if Barack Obama just left the country for 5 days without anyone knowing...

June 25, 2009 04:01 pm at 4:01 pm |

Johanna

I think he should resign or get fired from deserting his job for five days with no explanations. If you and I didn't call in to work for five days we would've been axed.

June 25, 2009 04:02 pm at 4:02 pm |

Bill

When Mark Sanford, John Ensign, Bill Clinton and John Edwards, LIED to their Wives.
.
…………… NO BODY DIED OR INJURED.
.
When Bush and Cheney Lied about WMDs of Iraq.
.
…………… 4,300 US TROOPS DIED
.……………… 45,000 US TROOPS INJURED
..………………… 100,000 IRAQIS DIED.

We must Forgive Mark Sanford, if we have Forgiven Bush and Cheney.

June 25, 2009 04:02 pm at 4:02 pm |

Kevin in Ohio

He should resign solely because of his dereliction of duty, i.e. being AWOL for six days. To paraphrase the liberals...."why should anyone resign or be impeached because of sexual escapades?"

June 25, 2009 04:04 pm at 4:04 pm |

Larry

I DON'T CARE!!!!!!

Please find something newsworthy. You've worn this story into the ground!!!!!!!

June 25, 2009 04:04 pm at 4:04 pm |

Frank, Las Vegas

He should resign because that's what he said he would do, remember Mr. Sanford. If you don't, and since you haven't already, I guess you're not going to resign. One word, HYPOCRITE! I have a wager with a friend of mine, that the other show hasn't dropped yet. very shortly we will find out that the mystery woman isn't a woman at all, but a man.

just remember, you heard it here first.

June 25, 2009 04:05 pm at 4:05 pm |

Dave C - NJ

OK so the Dems are the only ones expected to "act like this"?
lol. Let's put a list together and see which side has more infidelity.
Don't forget Falwell and Jim Baker. 🙂

June 25, 2009 04:05 pm at 4:05 pm |

SChalice

GOP idiots making the moral stance instead of recognizing that leaving the country for a week without telling anyone is the reason he should be fired (if Sanford had a security clearance it would be illegal). Most American white collar workers would be fired from their jobs if they did the same thing and they don't have near the responsibility Sanford had.

June 25, 2009 04:06 pm at 4:06 pm |

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA

Your party is telling you to step down governor. I think you should heed to their advice.

June 25, 2009 04:06 pm at 4:06 pm |

SChalice

"Has anyone stopped to think that this story of unfaithfulness may also be a cover up?"

Yes, it was the first thing that popped into my head. I assumed he was in Argentina to do drug deals. Why else?

June 25, 2009 04:07 pm at 4:07 pm |

Tomkat

I laugh at the fact that this man has been so judgmental of others, yet was living the life he publicly opposed. Typical of a politician. Hypocrite is the title that fits here. But of course, the GOP will all say "He is only human and is not perfect, but since he is an upstanding christian man, he deserves another chance. Mrs. Governor is a fool if she takes him back. Take the children and run, the man disrespected his wife and her family, some cultures would justifiably have him rubbed out for such an act. Leaving the state with all of it's problems and no one in charge so he could go participate in extracurricular activities is grounds for impeachment. That is called desertion. If he were in the military, he could find himself standing in front of a firing squad. Karma GOP...karma...

June 25, 2009 04:09 pm at 4:09 pm |

Mary

He did not mean it when he said, He would resign if found in that situation", he meant "he hope he would never get caught". Do you wonder why a husband and father of four would me away with his mistress on Father's Day? Even cheaters know to be home on holidays.
What was he thinking, Bush was still in office and didn't know nor care to know what is going on in the country. Did (He) or congress forgot about the bill they signed called the Patriot Act, nothing is secret now.